Improved method of exploding nitro-glycerine



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

GEoEGE M. MOWBEAY, 0E TiTUsviLLE, PENNSYLVANIA,

IMPRVED METHOD OF EXPLODING NITRO-GLYCERINE.

.Specification forming part of Leiters Yatent Nc. 93,1 13, dated July 2.7, 18'69.,

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE M. MowERAY, ot' Titusville, in the county of Crawford, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Exploding Nitro-Glycerine, Dynamite, &c., and of rendering the exdynamite, and other explosive compounds,

which are more difcult to explode than gunpowder,vastly increasing their disruptiveforee, as well as the disruptive force ofgunpowder, in consequence of the rapidity with which the fulminate llame and heat pervade the whole. More especially is this the case when several fuses and fulminat-e charges are tired by the all-but simultaneous flash of the electric spark in a bulk of explosive matter.

My invention, then, is particularly useful in explosions designed to enlarge the diameter of an artesian or petroleum well at considerable depths under water, for submarine blasting of heavy charges of gunpowder, because A the compound to be fired cannot escape into the surrounding water before all its particles have been converted into gases bythe intensely-heated and rapid flame ofthe fulminate.

The compound most diiicult to explode with precision,`as to. the instant of explosion, and with safety, as regards the operator, is, perhaps, nitro-glycerine, for a current of electricity from two hundred cells, .containing one gallon and a half each, has failed to explode it; while the results of a premature explosion are usually so terrible, that certainty kof explosion at will, and without risk to the operator, has been a desideratum. This my invention secures.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and mode of operation,

vand select for this purpose the details of exploding nitro-glycerine in a petroleum-well.

Near to the well to be operated upon, I provide the means for exciting an intense current of electricity, for which purpose I prefer a frictional electric machine, with a condenser, equivalent to a Leyden Jar, attached. The Ruhmkor' or Page induction-coill will answer; but the battery, with its charge of acid to in-` duce the current, is inconvenient to transport.

Therefore I prefer a frictional electric machine,

one having a plate ,of ebonite,I or hard rubber, about ten inches diameter, issuiicient; and I find that from ten to twenty turns ot' the handle of such a machine, when in good order, is sufcient to give a spark between two points three-quarters of an inch apart.

I next provide a Well-insulated wire, of sul'- ficient length to lead from thedischargingknob to the point where the explosion is de-V sired to operate. A solution of continuity in tho copper conducting-wire is made at this point; and between the divided wires, whose points need not be more than one thirty-second of an inch apart, I introduce a few grains of a priming composition, to serve as a fuse, composed as follows: Sulphuret copper, nine parts; subphosphuret copper, two parts; and. chlorate potash, three parts, intimately mixed and dried. This composition iseifectually secured between the ends of the insulated Wire, where the solution of continuity exists, so that the current of intense electricity may discharge itself through the priming composition, and, as the spark leaps from point to point, ignite it.

Close to this priming, or surrounding it, but separated therefrom by collodion, paratflne, or tinfoil varnished, I noW place ten grains7 or thereabout, of fulminatin g mercury,`

or its equivalent.

For exploding nitro-glycerine or dynamite in an oil-well, a cylinder, made ot' tin plate, threeinches diameter, and about eighteen inches in length', with a wired bale or handle,

and closed at bottom, is conveniently suited for holding the nitro-glycerine.

As water does not interfere with the explosion of nitro-glycerine, the mouth of the cylin der 'may be left open.`

The bail or handle should have a wooden guard round it, like an ,ordinary pail-handle,

so that,'when the insulated Wire is hitched round it, to prevent slipping, for the purpose of lowering into the well, the insulation may not be destroyed by chaiing.

' being so arranged as to conduct a current of electricity from its terminating-point, either to the tin cylinder or to Water ofthe Well, and thence to earth, as before described. Gonnec` tion is now made between the leading-Wire and the ydischarging-knob of the electrical machine, and next the negative pole is connected with earth or water; "upon taking from ten to twenty turns of the handle of machine, suincient electricity is induced, When the discharger is sprung to insure explosion.

Eaplanaton of Drawing.

Figure l is a general View of the electrical machine, the reel for lowering the wire, and the cylinder containing the nitro-glycerine, asl adapted for an artesian Well.

A is the electrical machine; B, the reel for the conducting-Wire. U is the tin cylinder,v

containing` the nitro-glycerine. a is the leading or conducting Wire. b is the return-wire, leading from the machine to earth.

Fig. 2 isv an enlarged View of the cylinder,

Y, position of the fuse d, which enplodes the fulininatef. y,

- l do not broadly claim, as my invention, the use of electricity in blasting, nor the use of insulated Wire for the like purpose; nor do I claim the above-described priming-composition; nor do claim fulminating mercury, or its equivalent; but

What li do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An electrical fuse for discharging nitro-glycerine, composed ot' the priming-composition specilied, or its equivalent, for inclosing the circuit-Wires at their point of interruption., in combination with an intermediate priming-y charge of fulminate of mercury, or its equivalent, all inclosed in cylinder C, and arranged substantially as and for the purpose specilied.

GEQL M. MOWBRAY.

Witnesses:

'Gnd WEST, RD. DUNN. 

